Angat’s water level falls, Bustos rises

MALOLOS, Philippines — The water elevation in the Angat Dam fell below its minimum operating level of 180 meters, while the Bustos Dam reached its spilling level yesterday.

Data from the provincial government showed that the water level of Angat was at 178.89 meters yesterday morning.

The figure was 1.11 meters below Angat’s minimum operating level of 18 meters and 33.11 meters below its normal high level.

Meanwhile, Bustos Dam’s water elevation reached 17 meters yesterday, its new spilling level after repair works at its Rubber Gate 5 were completed.

Both dams are located in Bulacan.

Angat supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs, while Bustos irrigates farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.

Despite the drop in Angat’s water level, allocations for Metro Manila households and irrigation supply for Bulacan and some parts of Pampanga will remain at 46 cubic meters and 30 cm, respectively, this month, according to Sevillo David Jr., executive director of the National Water Resources Board.

Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando assured the farmers that the provincial government would provide them irrigation pumps if water supply from Angat stops this coming dry season.